Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a) In addition
to the definitions in Section
6000.10, the
following shall apply to and govern this Section 6000.350:
"Acceptance Inspection" means the final inspection of a zip
line performed upon installation completion and before commissioning.
"Anchor System" means a system of anchorages and anchorage
connectors that provide a secure termination for a life safety system, personal
safety system, belay system, or rope rigging system.
"Anchorage" means the terminating component of a life safety
system, personal safety system, belay system, or rope rigging system intended
to support any force applied to the system.
"Anchorage Connector" means an interface component coupling any
anchor system or system component to an anchorage.
"Automatic Anchorage Connector" means an anchorage connector
that is properly engaged by automatic action without manually applied fasteners
in the connector.
"Brake" means a device, method or system used to arrest the
traverse of the participant.
"Brake System" means a complete system comprised of the primary
and emergency brakes.
"Canopy Tour" means a guided aerial exploration or transit of
the forest canopy, most commonly by means of a series of zip lines or aerial
walkways with platforms.
"Commissioning" means an action by the installer or other
competent person of putting a new element or course into service for the
owner/operator.
"Competent Person" means a person possessing the skills,
knowledge, experience, training and judgment to perform assigned tasks or
activities satisfactorily, as determined by a reasonable person.
"Dismount" means the act of disembarking from the zip line and
proceeding away from the landing area.
"Fixed Zip Line" means a zip line that is designed to be used
at a fixed, single location and not readily moved to a different
location.
"Landing Area" means the area provided for arrest and dismount
after traversing a zip line.
"Mobile Zip Line" means a zip line that is designed or adapted
to be moved from one location to another and is not fixed at a single
location.
"Mobile Zip Line Manufacturer" means a company responsible for
the design, quality, fabrication and delivery of a mobile zip line.
"Operating System" means the system or systems of processing a
patron through the zip line route used on a particular site. This includes
registration, preparation, getting to the landing point, methods of attachment,
the rigging and lowering system, and the landing recovery method.
"Operation, Maintenance, Inspection and Training Manual" or
"Manual" means a document containing the procedures and forms for the operation
of the zip line activity and equipment on the site.
"Sag" means the vertical deflection in a horizontal
line.
"Service Proven" means an element, ride, device, structure or
major modification to an element, ride or device of which:
units have been in service to the public for a minimum of five
years; and
units that have been in service without any significant
design-related failures or significant design-related safety issues that have
not been mitigated.
"Third Party Inspector" means a qualified person not directly
employed by the operator of the zip line or parent company, original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) or vendor, and not offering other services to the operator
of the zip line or parent company who is qualified via ACCT accreditation,
NAARSO certification, PRCA accreditation, or another approval that equally
qualifies that person to provide zip line inspections.
"Zip Line Brake System" means a system that arrests the
participant's traverse along a zip line. Brake systems can be active or
passive.
"Zip Line Landing Area" means an area provided for the
participant to arrest and dismount after completing a zip line traverse.
"Zip Line Tour" means a guided, aerial exploration or transit
of a landscape using a series of zip lines and platforms generally supported by
man-made structures.
b)
This Section shall govern all zip lines in operation on and after March 27,
2013. However, the Director may grant a permit to an operator of a zip line
that was in operation on March 27, 2013 that does not meet all the standards in
this Section if the operator can clearly demonstrate a service proven element
or that the applicable safety requirements throughout this Part are
substantially satisfied so as to ensure the safety of the public.
c) This Section specifies the site, site
approval, design, testing of equipment, management of the operation, operating
procedures, emergency provisions, and procedures for zip lines from any
mechanically operated platforms that carry participants to the top of the
structure. All zip lines shall meet the manufacturer's standards and
specifications.
d) Site Plan,
Equipment Design and Construction
1) All zip
line operating system designs shall be reviewed and sealed by a licensed
professional engineer and a licensed structural engineer. ANSI, ASTM or other
applicable standards shall be used as general guidance. The designer of fixed
zip lines and the manufacturer of mobile zip lines are responsible for
preparing the report for the owner. The design report shall contain site plans,
safety zones, drawings and specifications of equipment, platform, rigging
system, and safety equipment. The report shall be submitted to the Department
before the commissioning of fixed zip lines and the operation of mobile zip
lines and shall be maintained on the site where the zip line is operating. The
design evaluation included in the report shall consider the following:
A) Static and dynamic loads on anchors and
components.
B) Fatigue limits or
absolute component replacement intervals.
C) Fatigue limits for structures.
D) Protection against metallic corrosion and
wood rot.
E) Clearances and hazard
analysis, including consideration of the effects of heavy crosswinds, rain, fog
and other conditions resulting in impaired visibility, maneuverability, loss of
traction or grip, and reduced braking capability.
F) Platform, walkway, ladder and associated
foundation size and load ratings, including factors of safety.
G) Anchor and foundation analysis for mobile
zip lines shall consider the load path through the anchor attachment point and
identify loading through all components, including an identified fixed
foundation. Vehicle frames or underframes can be used as fixed foundations,
providing a verifiable load analysis is submitted. Alternate qualification,
consisting of a statement by the vehicle manufacturer confirming the anchor
attachment point and loadings are suitable for the vehicle, is
acceptable.
2) An
inspection by a third-party inspector shall be conducted each time a major
component is modified. Scheduled component replacements in accordance with
manufacturer or designer maintenance procedures do not constitute a design
modification.
3) Fixed zip lines
shall be inspected by a third-party inspector annually. Results and the report
shall be made available to the Department.
4) Differences between the design as detailed
in the engineer's report and evaluation and the implemented installation by a
competent person shall be reconciled. Appropriate explanations of the
differences, which may include modified drawings, procedures, analyses and
additional calculations shall be appended to the original design report or
engineering evaluation as applicable. Owner's manuals shall be updated to
reflect the engineer's or manufacturer's acceptance of the
modifications.
5) A fixed zip line
site commissioning plan, including an acceptance test procedure and report,
shall be incorporated in the engineer's report. Commissioning and testing shall
be conducted by a competent person
6) Mobile zip line site set-up, pre-start
inspection, and test procedures shall be clearly documented and followed by a
competent person.
7) The Department
shall maintain the confidentiality of the engineer's report as authorized by
Section 7(1)(g) of the Freedom of Information Act.
e) General Compliance Criteria
1) Equipment
A) Zip lines shall be comprised of flexible
steel wire rope. Zip lines shall have no exposed wires/strands within reach of
the participants that may result in injury. Wire rope used as zip lines shall
not be spliced.
B) When a portion
of the zip line or landing area is not visible from the zip departure point, a
departure procedure shall be utilized to ensure a clear unobstructed
run.
C) There shall be adequate
clear space above, below and around the zip line to ensure the participant will
not strike or contact any permanent or transient obstruction, object or
person.
D) Rescue ropes, equipment
appropriate to applicable rescue loads, rescue plans, and personnel trained to
retrieve a participant from anywhere within zip line spans shall be present
during use.
E) Carabiners and
snap-hooks shall comply with the gate strength and other applicable
requirements of ANSI/ASSP Z359.1(2007)
for the manufacturer's estimated life cycle of the product. Carabiners and
snap-hooks shall be auto-closing and auto-locking and require at least two
deliberate consecutive actions to open.
F) Lanyards shall comply with the strength
requirements of ANSI/ASSP Z359.1(2007)
for manufacturers estimated life cycle of the product. Lanyards should carry
the marking of the manufacturer and the safe working load or breaking
strength.
G) Items carried by
participants, including backpacks and carryalls, hair, and clothing that may
become entangled in safety equipment or component parts shall be secured
properly.
H) Pulleys and trolleys
shall be of the double wheel type construction per the design specification to
eliminate derailing during operation.
I) All parts and components shall be
purchased from the manufacturer or shall only be manufacturer-approved
replacement parts.
2)
Zip Line Arrival Point, Protection and Braking
A) Zip line courses shall have appropriate
safety devices, such as impact-absorbing materials, ground cover, load limiters
and landing mats or landing nets, installed per the manufacturer's design
specifications at the zip line arrival point. Descriptions and operating
characteristics of the safety devices shall be included in the design
drawings.
B) One or more of the
following methods shall be included in the operating system of the zip line
course:
i) Impact absorbent ground cover,
impact absorber/load limiter, landing mats, nets, water landings, or other
protective methods installed in arrival areas to reduce injury
potential.
ii) Passive braking
systems shall not require any action by the user and shall always be in effect
through gravity, engineered, or mechanical means. If gravity braking is
designed to result in the participant being removed after arriving at a low
point in the zip line, the removal device or equipment shall be rated for the
design reach and loads as determined by the design plan. If mobile equipment is
used to remove participants at the arrival point, the approach path shall be
free of potential hazards. The stability of the vehicle shall be insured
through proper selection of the equipment and the approach.
iii) Active braking systems that use a
mechanical braking system must also have a secondary braking system or
assistance of an operator as a secondary or emergency braking system.
C) Parked vehicles shall only be
used as secondary tie-off points for portable zip lines and may be used as
primary anchor points when the vehicle meets the weight class and type
specified by the manufacturer and engineering requirements of the ride.
Additionally, any vehicle used as a primary or secondary anchoring point must
be physically prevented from being operated by disabling the electrical system
(disconnecting battery) so that the vehicle cannot be started or by other means
outlined in the manufacturer's design specifications.
D) The use of a tree as an anchor point for
the termination of a zip line or to secure the takeoff platform of a zip line
is acceptable. The tree or trees shall be inspected and approved by a certified
arborist to ensure good health and stability of the trees. All trees on fixed
installations shall receive this assessment no less than annually.
3) Zip Line Takeoff Platform
A) Takeoff platforms shall be designed to
prevent the participant from striking any portion of the platform or lower
obstacle during the takeoff.
B)
Angles of inclination of the landing ramps shall not constitute a tripping
hazard for the participant.
C)
Where necessary, impact-absorbing material shall be utilized to prevent
injury.
D) Unauthorized access to
zip line platforms during periods when the ride is shut down or not attended by
a qualified operator shall be prevented by suitable means, including barriers.
Hazard warning signs shall be conspicuously placed where applicable.
f) Site Operating
Manual and Documentation
1) Each site shall
have an operating manual for the safe operation of zip line activities on that
site. The manual and all amendments shall be on-site and freely available to
operator staff and governing bodies.
2) The manual shall include the procedures
for complying with this Part.
3)
The manual shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A) A site plan;
B) A description of operating systems and
equipment;
C) Job procedures,
including training (see Section
6000.120(c))
, for each task in the operating system;
D) Job descriptions;
E) Sample of staff qualifications;
F) Staff selection procedures;
G) Maintenance standards and
procedures;
H) Testing procedures
and recording;
I) Criteria for the
periodic replacement of rigging;
J)
Criteria for the regular planned inspections of ropes, webbings and
bindings;
K) Emergency plan and
procedures;
L) Reporting of
injuries, damage and incidents;
M)
Requirements for maintaining logs, including:
i) Site;
ii) Equipment and rigging; and
iii) Personnel;
N) Records to be kept;
O) Requirements for analysis of
records;
P) Inspection procedures,
standards and follow-up actions; and
Q) Examples of forms to be used.
g) Emergency Provisions
and Procedures
1) Each site shall have an
emergency plan.
2) A medium first
aid kit and blankets shall be on site.
3) Emergency lighting shall be provided at
sites that operate between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise.
The emergency lighting system shall illuminate the takeoff platform, the zip
line, the zip line course, and the arrival point for participants. The
emergency lighting system shall have its own power source.
4) In inclement weather, including but not
limited to lightning, rain, hail, snow or high winds, operations shall cease
and participants shall not be allowed to ride the zip line or be on or near the
platforms or termination points of the ride.
h) If a zip line operating system meets all
the equipment and inspection requirements of this Section, the Department will
issue an operating permit, subject to the applicant submitting the fees
required by Section
6000.50(b)
and (c).
i) An owner or operator of a zip line that is
permitted under the Act and this Part may disclose or advertise such permit
status. Misrepresentation of permit status shall be a violation of the Act. No
owner or operator shall advertise any zip line as being otherwise endorsed or
approved by the Department, in any advertisement, brochure, commercial, TV or
radio show, or newspaper, or in any other public manner.